President Jonathan, Obasanjo, NGE, govs mourn Remi Oyo
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Emmanuel Elebeke, Daud Olatunji, Anayo Okoli, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Olasunkanmi Akoni
REMI Oyo was as an exemplary and inspiring trail-blazer – President Jonathan
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, joined other eminent Nigerians in paying tribute to former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Mrs Remi Oyo who died on Wednesday in London, few days to her 62nd birthday anniversary.
A statement by Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati said “on behalf of his family and the Federal Government, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to her husband, Vincent, her children, Otome and Okiemuote, her surviving siblings and other relatives.
SOME MANAGEMENT STAFF OF THE NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA (NAN), AT THE SIGNING OF CONDOLENCE REGISTER FOR THE FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR, MRS OLUREMI OYO, AT THE NAN HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY (2/10/14).
The President similarly commiserates with the Nigerian Guild of Editors who Dame Oyo served most admirably as a two-term President in the course of her trail-blazing journalism career, the management and staff of NAN as well as the many colleagues, friends and protégés she garnered in her very fulfilled life.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his tribute said the demise of Oyo has left a ‘sour taste’ in his mouth and others who knew her. In a letter of condolence dated October 2, signed by the former president, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, the former President commiserated with the widower, Mr. Vincent Oyo and the entire family. Obasanjo said his former Senior Special Assistant on Media, has left an indellible mark in her chosen profession – journalism.
Also commiserating with the bereaved family, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, expressed shock over the death of the veteran journalist, describing her death as a big loss to journalism in particular and the media industry in general.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, the governor described the late Oyo not only as an icon of an ideal journalist but also a trailblazer in the pen profession who was well respected in the media world.
Senate mourns Remi Oyo, says she was an accomplished professional
The Senate yesterday mourned the demise of Mrs. Remi Oyo, describing her death as shocking. The Senate in a statement in Abuja through its spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, recalled the late Oyo’s contributions to media development, particularly her pivotal role in revolutionizing news gathering through wire services as exemplified in her sterling performance in NAN as its Managing Director. Abaribe said, “Senate is really shocked, knowing that her loss is another blow to the media industry in Nigeria coming in quick succession to other high profile deaths of notable media professionals in recent time.”
Late Remi Oyo
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senator David Mark has described Mrs. Oyo as an accomplished professional and a successful administrator that made her marks in the journalism profession. Senator Mark in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh said, “As an editor, she was a pathfinder. As the president of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, she provided exemplary leadership that took the Guild to a higher level. She was a great asset to the Nigerian media and a worthy daughter of the nation. We shall miss her robust and intellectual contributions to national development.”
NPAN mourns
The Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, said, yesterday, it received the news of the death of Mrs. Oluremi Oyo with great shock. NPAN said in a statement by its general secretary, Comfort Obi, that Mrs. Oyo’s passage came at a time the nation was trying to come to terms with grisly exit of another very active member of the Guild, and vice chairman of Sun newspapers, Mr. Dimgba Igwe.
NGE mourns Oluremi Oyo
The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, joined others in mourning the passage of the former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. Mrs Oyo, a Fellow of the NGE and its first female president, died on Wednesday in London, few days to her 62nd birthday anniversary, which would have come on October12. Prior to her two-term tenure as the managing director of NAN, she served as the senior special assistant, media and publicity, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
NGE said in a statement by its secretary general, Isaac ighure, that Oyo will long be remembered by the guild for her exemplary leadership qualities, which brought the Guild out of a near comatose state, with about 200 members, and transformed it into a vibrant association of senior editors with more than 400 members. Her tenure as the NGE president marked a new beginning for the Guild and laid a solid foundation for its transformation into a force to be reckoned with in the country.
Family announces death
The Oyo family has announced the death of Dame Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo, in London. In a statement, issued on Thursday, her husband, Mr Vincent Oyo, said she died peacefully on Wednesday, in London, where she was recuperating after receiving treatment from an ailment. Born on October 12, 1952, Oyo, a seasoned journalist, served as senior special assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 to 2007.
Maku mourns, describes death as huge loss to media industry
Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku said he received the news of the demise of the erstwhile Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria with shock and sadness. Mr. Maku described her death as a huge loss to her family, the media industry in Nigeria, the womenfolk and the nation in general, adding that the late Mrs. Remi Oyo died at a time when the nation and the media industry in Nigeria needed her wise counsel and vast experience
Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State expressed shock over the death of Mrs. Remi Oyo. A statement by his chief press secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, described Oyo’s death as a big loss to the country.
Remi Oyo was a role model to professional women — Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said that the death of former Presidential Spokesperson, Mrs. Remi Oyo, was not only a loss to Nigerian journalism, but also to Nigerian women at large.
Atiku, who disclosed this in a condolence message said Mrs. Oyo distinguished herself in her own profession as an excellent and hardworking Journalist, rising to the position of President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors.
Oyo’s death a great loss, says Fayemi
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, described the death of former presidential spokesperson, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, as a great loss to the state and Nigeria as a whole. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, the governor said Mrs. Oyo’s death is a bitter pill to swallow at this critical period in the history of the state and the country.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State who said the death was shocking and disheartening, noted,“Mrs. Oyo was a leading light in the journalism profession in Nigeria.”
Oshiomhole mourns
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has commiserated with the president, Nigerian Guild of Editors over the death of a former president of the Guild, Mrs Remi Oyo in a London hospital. In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Comrade Oshiomhole said: “Mrs Oyo’s death is a sad loss not only to her family, the Guild of Editors, the media industry but to the entire nation which she served with vigour and forthrightness.”
Remi Oyo, a worthy role model in Journalism—Fashola
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State described late Oluremi Oyo as a forthright journalist who practiced journalism driven by values and comported herself as a worthy role model in the profession throughout her life time.
Fashola who expressed shock and sadness over the sudden death said in a condolence statement that she would be sorely missed by all.
Recalling the dynamism which Oyo brought to bear into her national assignment as Spokesperson to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and her leadership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the NAN, the governor noted that her passage, though, very painful should also serve as inspiration to all media professionals to always strive for excellence.
While expressing his heartfelt condolences to the widower, Mr Vincent Oyo and the family, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Fashola prayed, “May God Almighty grants the departed soul peaceful repose and abide with all family members and the journalism family she left behind.”
ADEYEYE MOURNS REMI OYO
The Minister of State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye has described the death of former President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Mrs Oluremi Oyo as “the fall of one of the grand oak in the forest of the media profession in Nigeria,” saying her death was a great loss to the nation and Ekiti State in particular.
Adeyeye said Remi Oyo was a quintessential media icon, who injected technocratic wisdom into her media works.
“It is sad to have lost a rare and unique woman who contributed immensely to nation building through her chosen profession of journalism.
“No doubt, Remi Oyo’s death is a loss to the nation in particular, and the media world in general.
“I express my heartfelt condolence for the loss of such a media icon and wish the entire family the continued support and guidance of the Almighty God.
“My prayer is that God in His infinite mercies will console the family, especially her husband and children the grace and fortitude to bear this sad loss,” Adeyeye said.
Also former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja has described the death of Mrs Remi Oyo, the Former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, aa a big loss to the whole nation.
According to him, her death has created a vacuum in the media that would be difficult to fill.
Adedoja, who is a governorship aspirant in Oyo State said, ‘’she was a woman of transformation, the way she transformed News Agency of Nigeria during her tenure as the Managing director, is incomparable”.
‘’She was an epitome of excellence in the way she discharged her duties even as the spokesperson of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. There is no doubt that she will be missed by those who have worked closely with her and the Nigerian media at large.
Remi Oyo: Obuh commiserates with family, NGE
Delta State governorship aspirant, Sir Tony Obuh, has expressed
shock over the death of the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs Olluremi Oyo, who passed on in the United States, where she was undergoing treatment for cancer.
Obuh who described Oyo one of the most eminent Nigerian female journalists lamented that she died too soon, noting that she served the country selflessly.
“Remi Oyo was a special person who would be deeply missed and be always remembered as a hardworking and dependable professional. As we all mourn her, we should also have it at the back of our mind that she lived a purposeful life in defence of the truth and public interest as well as the promotion of the highest standards in her chosen profession of journalism,” Obuh said.
He prayed God to give Mr. Vincent Oyo, husband of the late seasoned journalist and her two children, Otome and Okiemute the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“Although no words can take away the pain of the family over the loss of Remi, I want the family to know that our hearts and thoughts are with them in this moment of grief,” he said.
In the same vein, Obuh also commiserated with the Nigeria Guild of Editors, which Oyo served for two terms as president in the course of her career as a journalist.
His words: “ I know this must be a difficult time for the Nigeria Guild of Editors as well as the management and staff of NAN and her many colleagues in journalism because Remi carved a niche for herself in a profession hitherto dominated by men. She patriotically entered national service as Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 and served with great distinction as the first female Press Secretary to a Nigerian leader until 2007. Mrs. Oyo cannot be forgotten in a hurry for her unquantifiable sacrifice for the advancement of the journalism profession.”
Obi Mourns Remi Oyo
The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has commiserated with the family of Dame Remi Oyo, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists over the death of Remi Oyo.
Obi who described Remi Oyo as a foremost journalists, said she plied his trade with urbanity, objectivity and maturity, thus teaching the younger ones the need to be guided by the ethics of the profession at all times. “Throughout her carrier which saw her reaching the apex of the profession, whether as the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the spokesperson to a former President of the Country or Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she represented the best and carried out her duties with becoming calmness even in the face of most challenging odds” She thought us all the difference between passing of information and plain rascality” , Obi said. To the people that worked with her, Obi observed that she treated with a mother’s surpassing kindness.
Obi appealed to the current President of the Guild of Editors , Mr. Femi Adeshina to take heart over the misfortune of death visiting some of their members, saying that “God knows best and would not be questioned.”
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